TECHNOLOGY

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  Tommy Shows Off Flawless English! People & Robots Co-exist at Osaka Expo

  Tommy is now able to communicate across language barriers. So, what was he doing at Expo 2025?

  2025.08.06

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  Hydrogen Power Conquers the Desert--HySE Buggy 2nd in Class at Dakar 2025

  For the second year running, HySE, a technical research association including Toyota and four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, has competed in the Dakar Rally with a hydrogen engine buggy, which finished second in its class. How has the vehicle evolved, and what challenges lie ahead?

  2025.06.23

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  Finally in the Race: Major Progress for the Liquid Hydrogen Car in Its Third Year at Fuji 24 Hours

  The liquid hydrogen-powered Corolla has returned to Fuji once again. This year, more than just finishing the race, the team aimed to compete with cars from other classes. We followed their journey through the battle.

  2025.06.11

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  Phantom Cars Can Solve the Manpower Crisis?! Can Autonomous Driving Bring New Life?

  The autonomous vehicles developed by Toyota Industries Corporation are operating at various worksites. Development continues in collaboration with other companies to help solve the labor shortage.

  2025.05.28

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  Trucks Carrying Hydrogen and Prepared Food - A New Challenge Starting at the Expo

  Along with its usual fare, a truck supplying a convenience store at the Expo also delivers hydrogen cartridges. A new stage has begun on the journey toward a hydrogen society.

  2025.05.07

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  Hydrogen Is Hot in the Northern Lands! Expanding the Decarbonization Movement

  A stove in a rest area, the power for a vending machine, flickering flames at a photo spot... In snowy Sapporo, the circle of like-minded hydrogen partners is expanding.

  2025.03.12

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  Is LUNA SEA Addicted to Hydrogen? Pursuing the Possibilities of Hydrogen and Music with Like-Minded Partners

  Mirai, a fuel cell electric vehicle that runs on hydrogen, parked at the venue for a concert by the Japanese rock band LUNA SEA. How do they contribute to LUNA SEA's performance?

  2025.02.17

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  A New Accolade for Basketball Robot CUE? The Passionate Development Team That Shot for a Guinness World Record

  In the first Toyota Times News of the new year, we feature the development team that tried to get a Guinness World Record™. The ball released from its right arm traces a beautiful arc as it heads straight for the hoop, and...?

  2025.01.15

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  Woven City to Officially Launch This Fall--Akio Outlines Toyota's "Test Course for Mobility"

  The vision unveiled in 2020 is becoming a reality. Appearing at CES for the first time in five years, Chairman Toyoda announced the opening of Phase 1 at Woven City, a "test course for mobility" that will one day be home to 2,000 people.

  2025.01.09

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  Super Taikyu Final Round Special: How Hydrogen Technology Has Evolved Through Motorsports

  What is a liquid hydrogen-powered Corolla racecar doing at this local hydrogen filling station? Find out in this special edition of Toyota Times News!

  2024.11.25

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  Taking Over for Yuta Tomikawa? Tommy Is Growing Fast with AI Technology

  Tommy, the robot modeled after Yuta Tomikawa, now guides guests at the Toyota Kaikan Museum. His communication skills have gotten a boost with generative AI technology.

  2024.11.06

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  Vectrix Japan--Finding Success in a New EV Category Through Outstanding After-Sales Support

  The Partners in Future Mobility series profiles innovative startups that participated in the Japan Mobility Show 2023. For the fifth article, we showcase Vectrix Japan, which is developing a new form of mobility that is neither motorbike nor car.

  2024.10.11

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  The Paris 2024 Legacy - World-First Challenges with Hydrogen Cartridges

  One legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games is hydrogen. Yuta Tomikawa came to "help" with some of the world-first trials happening on the streets of Paris.

  2024.09.25

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  A Project to Explore the Future of Communication with "Tommy"

  One day in June 2023, a new project began at Toyota called the Tommy Project. It looks to the future of communication through robots.

  2024.09.11

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  AeroSense--Creating an Airborne Industrial Revolution with Hard-working Drones

  Partners in Future Mobility profiles innovative startups that participated in the Japan Mobility Show 2023. Our fourth article showcases AeroSense, a company that is developing industrial drones.

  2024.09.06

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  LOOVIC--Allowing Your Voice to Help Loved Ones on Their Travels

  Partners in Future Mobility profiles innovative startups that participated in the Japan Mobility Show 2023. Our third article showcases LOOVIC, a service that supports mobility with personally recorded route guidance.

  2024.08.06

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  A Hydrogen Cruise Without Noise or CO2: A Culmination of Technology for the Future

  Hydrogen and fuel cell (FC) technology are getting active use in fields other than cars. We paid a visit to Japan's first hydrogen-powered passenger ship, and to the bustling H2 & FC Expo.

  2024.07.31

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  Total Brain Care--Supporting Mobility with Powerful Brain Visualization

  "Partners in Future Mobility" profiles innovative startups that participated in the Japan Mobility Show 2023. This time, we caught up with Total Brain Care, creators of cognitive function testing and training tool Powerful Brain Trainer CogEvo.

  2024.07.11

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  Car Lovers Thrilled to Hear Joint Declaration - Three Automakers and Their Next-Gen Engines

  It's new era for the internal combustion engine. With horizontally-opposed and rotary engines, each company's best-known engine will be updated for the decarbonization era. This report deep dives into the unusual joint declaration that had car lovers cheering.

  2024.07.10

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  Grilling Pizza, Steaming Rice, and even Soaking Feet? A Cavalcade of Hydrogen Technology Uses

  Working to make hydrogen a household energy source. This episode profiles diverse initiatives at the Fuji Speedway and in Australia.

  2024.07.03

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  NearMe--Creating Sustainable Communities Through Taxi Sharing

  Partners in Future Mobility profiles innovative startups that took part in the Japan Mobility Show 2023. We begin with NearMe, which claimed top honors at the event's Pitch Contest.

  2024.06.20

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  Our Motto Is "Producing Happiness for All!" A Look at Cutting-Edge Human-Centered AI Development!

  TRI (Toyota Research Institute) is working on cutting-edge AI research. Here, we take a look at AI development rooted deeply in the ideas of Chairman Akio Toyoda and Toyota itself.

  2024.06.18

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  The Liquid Hydrogen-Powered Corolla's 2nd 24-Hour Endurance Race: Challenge and Evolution

  The liquid hydrogen-powered Corolla has once again competed in the 24-hour endurance race this year. Since last year's race, improvements have been made to build both the team and the car. We follow this evolution.

  2024.06.05

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  The Engine Reborn--Three Companies Develop ICEs for Decarbonization

  Subaru, Mazda, and Toyota's technology chiefs provided updates on their next-generation engine development. We take an in-depth look at these new technologies, which build on each company's unique offerings.

  2024.06.04

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  Subaru, Mazda, and Toyota Tackle Engine Decarbonization through Co-creation and Competition

  The three companies have long engaged in friendly rivalry over engines. Recently, their leaders came together to announce new developments for the electrification era.

  2024.06.03

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  The Lunar Cruiser: Contributing to Lunar Exploration and Giving Back to Mobility on Earth

  The Lunar Cruiser is a joint research project with JAXA that launched in 2019. Here, we take a closer look at four core technologies required for driving in the harsh environment of the moon.

  2024.05.29

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  Hydrogen Engine Buggy Places 4th in Class at Dakar 2024! Behind the Scenes (Part 2)

  The HySE technical research association, comprising four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Toyota, entered a hydrogen-powered vehicle in Dakar 2024. Part 2 ventures into the development genba and behind the scenes at the rally.

  2024.05.17

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  Hydrogen Engine Buggy Places 4th in Class at Dakar 2024! What is the future that HySE seeks to create? (Part 1)

  The HySE technical research association, comprising four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Toyota, entered a hydrogen-powered vehicle in Dakar 2024. What significance did it hold?

  2024.05.17

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  Accelerating World First Experiments to Make Watching Motorsports Fun and Comfortable for Everyone

  Many novel ideas came together at the circuit to help everyone enjoy motorsports, regardless of ability. How far have their initiatives progressed?

  2024.03.06

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  The Forefront of Monozukuri : Endeavoring to Change the Future of Cars

  Toyota's evolving production sites combine digital tools with expert craftsmanship. We took a look at initiatives that aim to change the future of cars.

  2023.12.27

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  A Hydrogen-Fueled HiAce Hits the Road in Australia

  The hydrogen-powered engines that Toyota has honed through motorsports are at last moving towards commercialization. We look at how far they have come.

  2023.11.22

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  Driving Without Pedals?! New Technology Grants Mobility for All

  At the JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW 2023, Toyota's booth unveiled an innovative steering wheel, offering a future where everyone can enjoy the freedom of driving. Toyota Times delved into the technology's development.

  2023.11.15

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  Halving Production Processes with Craftsmanship & Digital Tools--Toyota's Monozukuri Genba on Display

  Toyota seeks to halve the number of manufacturing processes through its renowned craftsmanship and technological innovations. The company showcased the monozukuri genba, giving rise to advanced technologies that will change the future of cars.

  2023.10.02

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  Team Japan Sets Sights on Space! Update on LUNAR CRUISER Development

  Toyota is researching and developing the LUNAR CRUISER, a crewed pressurized rover to provide mobility on the moon's surface, which JAXA hopes to launch in 2029. At a recent press briefing, the team provided updates on development.

  2023.09.26

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  Partnerships & Mass Production--Harnessing Scale to Enrich Mobility

  As part of efforts to advance CASE technologies, Toyota is stepping up collaboration in the commercial sector, where a growing circle of like-minded partners is leveraging economies of scale to create a prosperous mobility society.

  2023.08.03

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  Cutting-Edge Gathering Reveals the Future of Mobility

  Batteries, hydrogen, even wheelchairs--all the latest technologies under development were on show at the Technical Workshop. Did Toyota reveal all its cards at once?

  2023.08.02

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  Latest Technologies Reveal Toyota's Commitment to "Mobility for All"

  Mobility for all. Toyota's guiding principle as a mobility company was brought to life by the technologies unveiled at the recent Technical Workshop.

  2023.07.31

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  The Carmaker's EV--Toyota's Focus on "Fun to Drive"

  Toyota won't allow its BEVs to become commodities. Amid calls for a shift to electric vehicles, the company's latest technologies brim with the passion of engineers who love cars.

  2023.07.28

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  Toyota Reveals the Future of Cars with Next-Generation Battery and Hydrogen Technologies

  Batteries with a 1,000 km cruising range and FC systems that combine fuel efficiency with longevity and lower costs were among the next-generation technologies unveiled by Toyota for future release.

  2023.06.23

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  Liquid Hydrogen Corolla's World-First 24-Hour Challenge

  In a world first, a liquid hydrogen-powered Corolla ran a 24-hour endurance race, capping off a long process of trial and error.

  2023.06.07

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  "Toyota and Apple are Similar"--A Treasure from the U.S. AI World Speaks About the Future of Automated Driving

  The squeal of tires echoes around a test course. A WRC World Champion sits in the driver's seat--with his hands in his lap?! A look at the present and future of automated driving.

  2023.03.01

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  Mobility For AllーRacing Spurs a World-First Experiment

  How can the deaf and hard of hearing enjoy the roar of an engine? How do you get the full race experience without visiting a track ? Yuta Tomikawa visits a circuit full of novel ideas.

  2023.02.22

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  Spotlighting Toyota's New Home Battery Business

  As stable power supply becomes an increasingly critical issue worldwide, Toyota has released a home battery system in Japan. Here, we look into the project's background and the struggles of the team charged with this new battery business.

  2022.09.14

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  Synthetic Fuels: A Promising Option for Decarbonizing Engines

  More and more companies and motorsports organizers have invested in synthetic fuels as an alternative to fossil fuels. Here, Toyota Times breaks down key points on these promising fuels that are powering a carbon-neutral future.

  2022.06.02

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  Toyota's AI Basketball Robot CUE5: Developers Continue to Forge Ahead to Give Back (Installment Four)

  Starting as an informal approach to learn AI technology, Toyota's basketball robot CUE has inspired the world with accurate throws and now with dribbling performance. Its next shot is going to be even bigger, doing everything that a basketball player does.

  2022.04.08

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  "Children's Dreams" a Driving Force behind Robot Mascot Development: The Technology and People that Supported the Tokyo 2020 (Part 3)

  Even in the face of technological hurdles, what drove Toyota's development team working on humanoid robots of the Tokyo 2020 mascot characters, Miraitowa and Someity, was a desire to bring smiles to children's faces.

  2022.03.30

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  HSR, the Omotenashi Robot: The Technology and People that Supported the Tokyo 2020 (Part 2)

  Despite difficulties such as the postponement of the Games and the decision to allow no spectators, the HSR team continued to pursue a human-centered approach with the omotenashi robot. This article shares their key learnings from that experience.

  2022.03.23

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  TRI Unveils Autonomous Drifting Capabilities To Advance Active Safety

  The GR Supra drifts around obstacles with a rumbling squeal. Find out why TRI is researching autonomous drifting technology.

  2022.03.10

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  "Do you like battery EVs?" Akio Toyoda's Response

  In the middle of the Q&A session, one journalist asked if President Akio Toyoda personally likes BEVs or not. As Master Driver of Toyota, or driver Morizo, what did Akio have to say?

  2021.12.21

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  Answers to Five Questions about Toyota's BEV Strategy (Report on Media Q&A Session)

  This article looks into the responses by four key speakers to media questions about Toyota's battery EV strategy announcement of Dec. 14. The underlying message is that the company's approach of providing full-lineup options is a sincere one.

  2021.12.21

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  Toyota Strengthens BEV Lineup to Keep Offering Options for Everyone (Full Text of President Toyoda's Presentation)

  Does Toyota's newly revealed battery electric vehicle strategy indicate a change in Toyota's multi-solution approach? Toyota Times spotlights President Akio Toyoda's presentation to help its readers better understand Toyota's direction.

  2021.12.20

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  Toyota Reveals Full Lineup of Battery EVs: Toyota's Briefing on BEV Strategies

  Toyota President Akio Toyoda has presented the company's battery EV strategies. Revealing 16 new battery EVs, what did he have to say?

  2021.12.14

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  Toyota's Field Support Robots with an "Athletes-First" Approach: The Technology and People that Supported the Tokyo 2020 Games (Part 1)

  As a worldwide partner, Toyota supported Tokyo 2020 with not only vehicles but also a variety of robots. Toyota Times turns a spotlight on the autonomous field support robots (FSR) in the first part of the series featuring the tireless efforts behind the scenes of the Games.

  2021.12.08

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  Regaining Hope and Joy: A Mother and Daughter's Life Turning Point with Toyota's Rehabilitation Assist Robot

  A smart, respected mother usually dressed in a suit and heels suddenly became unable to walk due to illness. A turning point for both mother and daughter was their encounter with a Toyota robot.

  2021.11.11

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  Doctors and Engineers Forming a Team: Untold Story of Toyota's Rehabilitation Assist Robot

  Toyota's rehabilitation assist robot development started inauspiciously with an overly technology-focused failure. This article takes a look back on a development process that spans more than a decade.

  2021.11.10

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  Why Akio Toyoda Refers to Woven City as a "Test Track"

  The Toyota Times Athletes Now program was re-launched on October 6 to cover Toyota sports news and events as well as important corporate topics. Its first guest, President Akio Toyoda, shared his thoughts on Woven City.

  2021.10.12

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  "Carbon is our enemy: Let's Use Everything We've Got To Fight It"－Toyota's Chief Scientist on Carbon Neutrality

  Dr. Gill Pratt, CEO of Toyota Research Institute, and Chief Scientist at Toyota, offers perspectives as a scientist on how people should understand carbon neutrality and how automakers should see the path moving forward.

  2021.09.28

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  Toyota's Key in Software Survival: In-House Capability and Real Customer Contact

  The importance of software and connected technologies in automobiles is growing. How will Toyota compete to survive? Keiji Yamamoto, Toyota's chief officer leading efforts in this area explained.

  2021.09.13

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  Integration with Vehicles--The Strengths of Toyota's Battery Development Strategy

  "Peace of mind" is key to Toyota's battery development concept. What strengths has Toyota cultivated to achieve the aim of this concept? Chief officers leading the effort explain the key points.

  2021.09.08

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  An Explainer on Hydrogen's Viability as A Future Energy Source

  This article provides basic information on hydrogen, the key energy source in achieving carbon neutrality, in the form of responding to various questions.

  2021.07.06

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  Building a human-centered city: interview with Woven City leaders

  Toyota Times reporter Morita interviews two key figures behind the Woven City project, James Kuffner and Daisuke Toyoda. Learn of their passion and commitment toward Woven City.

  2021.04.08

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  Morita inspects the working progress of Woven City

  Morita's assignment was to investigate its future. In Nihonbashi, he visited Woven Planet Holdings, the company that's leading the Woven City project.

  2021.04.01

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  "Within Reach If You Just Keep Climbing": Akio's Message on Woven City

  With ground having been broken on Woven City, Akio Toyoda has released a video message for all those who will develop together a city of the future.

  2021.02.27

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  Woven City Construction Kicks Off: Akio's Promise at Groundbreaking Ceremony

  Woven City has taken off on Feb. 23, so-called "Mt. Fuji Day" in Japan! At the groundbreaking ceremony, Akio made one promise on what to embrace in advancing the project.

  2021.02.23

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  Beyond Automotive: Woven Planet Group Takes Off

  Many people have heard about Woven City, which is planned to break ground on February 23rd, but what about Woven Planet Group? Read on to learn more about the new Woven companies and the focus of each of them.

  2021.02.19

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  Toyota reveals the full scope of the evolved e-Palette

  e-Palette, vehicles that consider the mobility of all people, will be used to provide a loop-line bus transportation service for the Olympic and Paralympic villages at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. How is the e-Palette evolving now?

  2021.01.27

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  Woven City Project Update - Selections from Toyota's 1H/2Q financial results Q&A session

  The third article in a three-part series showcasing Akio's responses during Toyota's 1H/2Q financial results Q&A session. In Part 3 - the final installment, the focus is on Akio's comments about Woven City, Toyota's prototype city of the future.

  2020.11.19

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  Tackling challenges is in the "DNA of Toyota people"

  Why develop the lunar rover? What does it have to do with Toyota? Toyota Times seeks more input, this time from Toyota's perspective.

  2020.09.18

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  "Toyota should be involved in space" The catalyst to joint collaboration was passion from team members

  The story of how the determination for Toyota to embark on projects for outer space development was born from the passion of two team members, one from Toyota, the other from JAXA.

  2020.09.11

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  Why Toyota is targeting space: An interview with Executive Mr. Terashi & Astranout Dr. Wakata

  Toyota Times speaks with Toyota's Shigeki Terashi and JAXA's Dr. Wakata Koichi to learn about the joint research on "LUNAR CRUISER" project, including background of how it came together and what they hope to achieve.

  2020.09.04

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  Up close and personal with Toyota's LUNAR CRUISER (Part 2)

  Toyota Times, having already discovered the intent behind developing the lunar rover at Tsukuba Space Center, now heads to the "Toyota Tokyo Design Laboratory" in Hachioji, Tokyo to find out about the current development status of the lunar rover.

  2020.08.30

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  Up close and personal with Toyota's LUNAR CRUISER (Part 1)

  "Team Japan," a group of companies in Japan with JAXA and Toyota at the core, is working on a vehicle for a crewed mission to the Moon. Toyota Times, launches his own mission to visit JAXA and learn more about the out-of-this-world vehicle.

  2020.08.30

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  Interview with Executive Vice President Terashi (5) : "Toyota Envisions a Future Without Emissions"

  Toyota goes to the moon: What is Toyota's strategy for electrification? - Interview between Naoto Ikeda (Motor Journalist) and Shigeki Terashi (Part Five - Final)

  2019.03.27

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  Interview with Executive Vice President Terashi (4) "In 2050 it won't be about BEVs or FCEVs, but about Toyota"

  Toyota goes to the moon: What is Toyota's strategy for electrification? - Interview between Naoto Ikeda (Motor Journalist) and Shigeki Terashi (Part Three)

  2019.03.26

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  Interview with Executive Vice President Terashi (3) Open-source Toyota and ALL-JAPAN

  Toyota goes to the moon: What is Toyota's strategy for electrification? - Interview between Naoto Ikeda (Motor Journalist) and Shigeki Terashi (Part Three)

  2019.03.25

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  Interview with Executive Vice President Terashi (2) Toyota 2029: Optimizing Vehicle Electrification

  Toyota goes to the moon: What is Toyota's strategy for electrification? - Interview between Naoto Ikeda (Motor Journalist) and Shigeki Terashi (Part Two)

  2019.03.24

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  Interview with Executive Vice President Terashi (1): Toyota Goes to the Moon

  Toyota goes to the moon: Toyota's thoughts on "Driving on the Moon" - Interview between Naoto Ikeda (Motor Journalist) and Toyota's Shigeki Terashi (Part One)

  2019.03.23

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  Toyota Drives Lunar Exploration with Manned, Pressurized Rover

  Toyota's Shigeki Terashi joins an international space symposium in Tokyo, speaking and discussing how every engineer thinks and dreams about going to the sixth continent -- the Moon.

  2019.03.19